laburnum

American  

[luh-bur-nuhm] / ləˈbɜr nəm /

noun

1. any of several small trees belonging to the genus Laburnum, of the legume family, having elongated clusters of pendulous yellow flowers, especially L. alpinum, the Scotch laburnum.

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laburnum British  

/ ləˈbɜːnəm /

noun

1. any leguminous tree or shrub of the Eurasian genus Laburnum, having clusters of yellow drooping flowers: all parts of the plant are poisonous

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Etymology

Origin of laburnum

1570–80; < New Latin, Latin

Example Sentences

There was blue-leaved agave in the traffic islands and, lining the streets, the trees of my childhood in Delhi — flamboyant, laburnum, jacaranda — were in flower.

From New York Times • Nov. 11, 2021

They spoke of being together again under their laburnum tree in Devon by the summer.

From The Guardian • Oct. 1, 2015

Cytisine, sold as Tabex by Sopharma AD, a Bulgaria-based company, is derived from laburnum seeds, which contain a natural nicotine substitute.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 28, 2011

In the parks where I walk the golden gulmohar trees, the purple jacarandas and the lemon yellow Indian laburnum are all blooming.

From BBC • May 8, 2010

He had never seen a laburnum and was puzzled by the name, which in Lapine is “Poison Tree.”

From "Watership Down: A Novel" by Richard Adams